I'm ready for this week of destiny, says Pardew as Toon prepare for crucial period

Defiant Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew insists his side’s Europa League dream is far from over, but he accepts that he is facing his most crucial week on Tyneside.

Fulham are the visitors to St James’ Park on Sunday, and Pardew is hoping to secure a win that will not only help ease any relegation worries but also give them vital momentum to take into the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Benfica.

The Portuguese league leaders bring a 3-1 lead to the North East on Thursday night, and Pardew believes that Papiss Cisse’s away goal has given them a vital lifeline to reach the semi-finals.

Work to do: Alan Pardew's side lost the first leg of their Europa League tie 3-1 in Portugal

Newcastle then have the small matter of the Tyne-Wear derby and Paolo Di Canio’s first visit to St James’ as Sunderland manager, in only his second game. It promises to be one of the most-fraught derbies in its 143-match history.

Pardew said: ‘It is one of the biggest weeks in my period here. Momentum will be key for the whole of next week. It is important that we get ourselves in a real positive place.

‘It is a big week in terms of the season, for sure, and we need to win. We will have to cope with the pressure. Can we? We are going to have to and I am confident that we have the ability in the squad to get ourselves into a position in the league where we will be a Premier League side next season.'

Pivotal: Pardew faces a crucial week with a European tie and Tyne-Wear derby to follow Fulham's visit

He said: ‘That is the focus for Sunday and then we switch back to Thursday to try to climb what will be a difficult hill, not what I would call a mountain, but a decent hill, to try to get up it.

‘I think we have actually gained confidence from the way we played in Lisbon.

‘When you go away from Benfica having been beaten 3-1, and you are really disappointed because you have gifted them two goals, you have got to take that into the next game.’

Pardew revealed that Italian full back Davide Santon had immediately apologised to team-mates when they returned to the dressing room in the Stadium of Light.

The left back’s blunder 20 minutes into the second half gifted substitute Lima the home side’s second goal.

Santon,
22, said: ‘I am feeling angry with myself. I think I had a good game
but that pass was a disaster. As a defender, you have to make sure that
your pass is right.

‘I
couldn’t see the striker. It was really annoying. I am really angry with
myself and when I got in the dressing room, I said sorry to everybody,
to all the players because it was my fault.

‘Now I have to forget my mistake and think about Sunday, next week and score two against Benfica.

‘For
us, the Europa League is important, but the Premier League is even more
important. We have to make sure against Fulham and then against
Sunderland, two games at home, we win them both,’ Santon added.

Sorry: Davide Santon apologised for his blunder which gifted Benfica their second goal

Driving seat: Benfica celebrate Oscar Cardozo's goal, which gave them a 3-1 lead

He continued: ‘We need to make sure we save our season and that we stay in the Premier League.

‘We are not giving up on the Europa League either. We had a lot of chances against Benfica, so it is even more frustrating that we conceded goals like we did. We can still do it next week because we have that away goal.’